Ficalora, Patricia Ann Amabile
WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — Patricia Ann Amabile Ficalora of Winter Garden, Fla. passed away on July 1, 2022, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
Patricia was born on July 13, 1949, in Albany, where she grew up and attended school, eventually moving to Clifton Park in 1968. She graduated from Vincentian Institute in Albany, where she was a member of the class of 1967.
After graduation, Patricia worked for the New York State Retirement System. She retired after 25 years of State service as a senior retirement calculations specialist to relocate with her young family to Longwood, Fla.
While working for the Retirement System, she made many friends with whom she remained in contact. One of her special memories of her time in State service was representing the Retirement System at the New York State Fair in Syracuse. Also, while working for the State, Patrica met and married Bruce Ficalora. They later divorced but remained close friends until her death.
Pat loved nothing more than spending time with her girls and her grandchildren, whom she adored. She was anxiously awaiting the birth of her third grandchild, Gabriel Otero, due in September 2022. Trips to restaurants, the beach, and of course, the mall, were her favorite places to spend time. She was a voracious reader who enjoyed historical fiction and could always be found with her e-reader close by. Visiting with her extended family was also extremely important, including her brothers and sister, nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and her beloved aunt, Jane. Her travel plans always revolved around big family gatherings where her large Italian family celebrated holidays, special events, or just being together. She was a naturally funny person, many times without even knowing it. Whenever Pat was around, you knew that fun would ensue.
Patricia was predeceased by her parents, Margaret N. (Logan) Amabile and Ernest A. Amabile; her father-in-law, Fred Ficalora; her cousin and close friend, Judith Ferrara Wesley (Charles); and her very special uncle, Anthony J. Ferrara. Patricia is survived by her daughters, Cara M. Ficalora Cabral (Jeffrey) and Katelyn E. Ficalora Otero (Gadiel); her grandchildren, Olivia and Emerson Cabral; her brothers, Ernest Amabile (Elaine) and Mark Amabile; her sister, Deborah Amabile Horton (Steven); her nieces and nephews, Steven Horton (Melissa), Sarah Horton Martin (Christopher), Rachel Amabile, Nicholas Amabile (Jhani), and Alison Amabile; her great-nieces and nephews, Luke and Benjamin Horton, Gabriella and Dillon Martin, and Ryland and Jasper Amabile; her beloved aunt, Jane Amabile Ferrara; her mother-in-law, Marie Ficalora; her sister-in-law, Barbara Ficalora Diamond; and her former husband and close friend, Bruce M. Ficalora.
Services will be private at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Patricia’s honor to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at pancan.org or the American Cancer Society at https://donate3.cancer.org.